Year's Second OCDC Seminar Focuses on Topical Development Challenges

The newest academic wing of the Army, Officer Career Development Centre (OCDC) at Buttala on Tuesday (6) inaugurated the year’s second two-day seminar on ‘Post-Conflict Role of the Army in the North and East and Maintenance of the Professional Image and Dignity of the Army'.

Major General Crishantha De Silva, Chief of Staff of the Army graced the inaugural ceremony as the Chief Guest together with several other distinguished contributors and guests, including Prof. Rajiva Wijesinghe (MP), Mr S.B. Divaratne, Chairman Presidential Task Force for Resettlement and Development, Majors General G. Hettiarachchi (Retd), Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Boniface Perera, Udaya Perera, Mr Nihal Rodrigo, Dr Prathiba Mahanamahewa, et al. OCDC Commandant Brigadier Aruna Jayasekara, the Chief Organizer of the event made the welcome address.

During this conference, attended by a fair number of senior officers engaged in development and reconciliation work in the north and east this symposium of academic nature took up many issues for discussion. 

The keynote address delivered by the Chief Guest underlined the importance of academic deliberations of this nature at a time the Army was trying to enhance the quality of the organization.

He briefed the gathering on the remarkable progress the Army has so far achieved in the sphere of de-mining, resettlement, reconciliation and in various other construction projects. ‘The future war is knowledge-based and that knowledge should encompass new technological innovations, meant to groom a fully-fledged Army officers in the future’, he added.

In this speech, he quoted a line from the Commander’s inaugural address and wanted everyone to “preserve the good, discard the bad and acquire the new”.

Sessions will continue on Wednesday (7).